Clamp



Jan. 5 1926. E. C. TAYLOR CLAMP Filed NOV. 25, 1922 2 'H1115 16 ==f3 J [11 9 22 l 'Il I l Al I J23 f//yra 1 12 13///// INVENT R- ATTCRNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED 'sTA'rlzs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD COOPER TAYLOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLAMP.

Application led November 25, 1922. Serial No. 603,291.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in clamps and holders, and with respect to its more specific feature to `clamps for connecting objects to cylindrical bodies.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive mechanism for connecting objects, such as traffic signals, to cylindrical bodies, as lfor instance radiator collars, in such manner that the pressure ofthe connecting means on the collar is distributed over a plurality of points.

Another object is to provide a device capable of adjustment to fit different sizes of collars, wherein the adjustment to various sizes is automatic and controlled by the tightening of the clamp on the body.

Another object is to provide a device which will firmly clamp the signal to the collar, without interfering with the normal function of the collar, and without the ypossibility of injury to the collar.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side view of a portion of a radiator showing the clamp and holder,

Fig. 2 is a plan view 0f the clamp, with parts in section,

Fi 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the c amp,

Fig. 4, is a front view of the holder detached from the clamp,

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the blank from which the holder is formed.

The present embodiment of the invention is designed to support traffic signals or license plates, or both, from the radiator collar o f an automobile in such manner that the signal will be supported at the front of the radiator, and the mechanism is so arranged, that it may be applied to collars of varying size, without the necessity for any change in the holder or clamp. The holder comprises a substantially triangular portion consisting of a base 1 and side members 2 converging toward each other from the ends of the base, and at the junction of the members 2 there is an extension 3, the said extension having integral laterally extending rigidifying flanges or wings 4, each of which is provided at its upper edge with a flange 5. The flanges are bent inwardly to overlap, as shown in Fig.4 4.-, and the extension 3 has a longitudinal slot 6, and the base l has a pair of alined slots 7 in its ends, the said slots being designed for a purpose to be presently set forth.

The clamp includes members 8 and 9, designed to be arranged on opposite sides of the radiator cap collar indicated at 10 and the adjacent ends of the members are connected together by telescoping bolts, each composed of an inner member 11, and an outer member 12. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noticed that the members 8 and 9 are substantially arc shaped, each having angularly disposed engaging faces adapted to engage the'collar at circumferentially spaced parts thereof. The members are of a length considerably greater than the diameter of the collar, so that when arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the members will extend well beyondl vthe collar. The member 9 is provided at each end with a transverse opening having an outwardly disposed spherical seat 13 and an inwardly disposed lHaring' or funnel-shaped recess 14. The outer member 12 of each telescoping bolt has a head 15 fitting the spherical seat 13 of the opening 13-14, and the head has a transverse kerf or groove 16 for engagement by a screw driver or like tool to turn the section.

Each end of the member 8 is longitudinally slotted as yshown at 17, to permit the passage of the inner member 11 of the bolt, and that face of the member at each end which is remote from the member 9 has a longitudinal groove 18 registering with the slot, and provided by reaming the outer end of the slot. Each of these grooves 18 is of greatest depth at its inner end, the bottom of the groove gradually inclining toward the inner end-as shown, and the head 19 of the inner member 11 of each bolt is formed on the segment of a sphere, as shown, to lit within the groove 18, the side wall of the groove being shaped to fit the segmental portion of the head. The .opening 13-14 and the head 15' provide a ball and socket connection between the bolt and the member 9, and the opening 17-18 and the head 19 provide a sliding connection for the bolt.

The inclination of the bottom of the groove tends'to force the head 19 inwardly, when the sections 11'and 12, of the bolt are turned to tighten the members 8 and 9 on the collar. When the clamp is placed on the collar, with the head 19 of the bolt at the outer end of the opening 17-18, and

with the bolts extended, it will be obvious intervals of 60 degrees.

- posite sides and at its front en that the clamp will slip over a collar of large diameter. When now the bolt sections are turned with respect to each other to tighten the clamp, the inclined grooves 1-8 will force the heads 19 inwardly, until the bodies of the sections12 engage the collar at substantially opposite points, where further inward movement of the bolts will be checked. Continued turning of the sections in a direction to tighten the members 8 and 9 will afterwards force the bodies of the bolts more tightly against the collar, and the clamp as a wholewill engage the collar at six points, separated from each other at Substantially equal distances, and at angular 'llhus the clamp will engage the collar at separated points throughout the circumference thereof, and the pressure will be widely distributed, and at points such that there will be no tendency of anyportion of the collar to spring outward under any pressure. The stress is substantially all radial to the collar, that is in a direction which it is best adapted to resist. Perferably the heads 19 beyond the segmental portion are polygonal in crosssecton to facilitate the turning thereof. The head 19 may be held by a wrench, and the head 15 turned by a screw driver or the screw driver may be used to hold the section 12, while the section 9 is turned by the wrench.

The member 8 of the-clamp has an extension 20 which is adapted to lap upon the flanges 5 of the holder, and the said extension and the flanges have registering openings as Shown, for receiving rivets 21, to se cure the extension to the flanges of the holder. At the end remote from the clamp the extension has a substantially wedge shaped depending flange 22, which is adapted to engage the upper edge of the back plate 23 of the traffic signalindicated at 24, and clamp the said plate 23 between the flange and the front of the extension 3. The extension also has lateral wings 25 at its op' which exten- 'securing member for forcing sions are longitudinally slotted as shown.

signal having a lamp for this purpose.

When it is not desired to use the traffic signal, it may be detached, by removing the bolts 26. The license plate may then be conneet-ed with the wings 25 and the base 1 ol' the holder, the upper edge 0f the plate being connected with the wings, and the lower end` of the holder base. The holder is stamped or cut from sheet metal or other suitable material, and the members 8 and 9 may be cast or otherwise formed. .T he improved clamp automatically adapts itself to any size radiator collar, within limits. When extended to its largest diameter, it will fit over collars of the largest size. When in place, the mere tightening of the sections 11 land 12 of the bolts will cause the device to adjust itself to the collar, and to engage the collar at the six points of contact.

As manyv changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is-intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intendedv to cover all of the generic and specie features of the invention herein dcscribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v .f

1. In a device of the class described, in

combination, opposing clamping members adapted to engage a supporting body, a said clamping members into clamping posltion upon said body, and a connection between said clamping members and said securing memberincluding an elongated seat to automatically urge said securing member intol clamping contact with said supporting body when said securing member is tightened to force said clamping members into clamping position.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, opposing clamping members adapted to engage a supporting body, a securing member for forcing said clamping members into clamping position upon said body, one of sald clamping members having an opening with a spherical seatand A Imeans to move inwardly as the members are drawn together, including cooperating cam surfaces on one of the members and the connecting means.

4. In a device of the class described, -in combination, opposing members, and contractible bolts connecting adjacent ends of the members, and having pivotal connection with one -of said members and lateral slidling connection with another of said members.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, opposing members, contractible bolts connecting adjacent ends of the members, and cooperating cam surfaces in connection with the members and lthe bolts for constraining the bolts to movey inwardly as they are tightened.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, opposing members, contractible bolts connecting adjacent ends of the mem'- bers, and cooperating cam surfaces between one of said members and the bolts for constraining the bolts to move inwardly at the en dsl adjacent to the said member when they are tightened.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, opposing clamping members adapted to enga e a body, securing means for forcing sai clampin members into position to clamp said bo y, said securing means also effecting independent clamping action against said body.

8. Ina device of the class described, in combination, opposing members, contractible bolts connecting adjacent lends of the members, a universal joint connection between the bolts and one of the members, and a slotted connection between the bolts and the other member for permitting the adjacent ends of the bolts to move longitudinally of the member.

9. In a device of the classl described, in combination, opposing members, contractible bolts connecting adjacent ends of the members, a-universal joint connection between the bolts and one of themembers, a slotted connection between the bolts and theother member for permitting the adjacent ends of the bolts to move longitudinally of the member, and cooperating cam surfaces for constraining the said ends of the bolts to move inwardly when they are tightened.

10. In a device ofthe class described, in comblnation, opposing substantially arc shaped members adapted to engage opposite sides of acylindrical body and contractible bolts connecting the ends ot the members, s aid bolts having a ball and socket connection with one member, and a sliding con- 'nection with the other member radial to the cylindrical body.

11. In' a device of the class described, in comblnation, opposing substantially arc shaped members adapted to engage opposite sides oi acylindrical body and contractiblc bolts connecting the ends of the mcnibers. sald bolts having a ball and socket connection with one member, and a sliding connec- `tion with the other member radial to the cylindrical body, and cooperating cam surfaces 1n connection with the said last named member and the bolts for constraining the bolts to move inwardly as they'are tightened.

12. In a ldevice ot the class described, in combina-tion, opposing arc shaped members having their inner edges shaped to engage a cylindrical body at points spaced apart from each other, means engaging the adjacent ends of the members for drawing them together, said means including contractible bolts having a universal joint connection with one member and a slotted connection with the other member for permitting the adjacent ends of the bolts to move longitudinally of said member. j

.13. In a device of theclass described, in combination, opposing arc shaped members having their inner edges shaped to engage a cylindrical body at points spaced apart from each other, means engagmg the adjacent ends of the members for drawing them together, said means including contractible bolts vhaving a universal joint connection with one member and a slotted connection with the other member for permitting the adjacent ends of the bolts to move" longitudinally of said member, and means for constraining the adjacent ends of the bolts to move inwardly when they are tightened.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, a signal support including a substantially triangular member for carrying the signal and having at one apex a supporting extension provided with rigidiying flanges, and a laterally disposed supporting arm merging with said flanges.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a signal support including a substantially triangular member for carrying the signal and having at one apex a supporting extension provided with rigidifying .ianges, a laterally disposed supporting arm merging with said flanges,- and a clamp for til) lll)

supporting the signal support and having a lug lapping said supporting arm.

16. In a device of the class described, 1n

combination, a signal supporting bracketv comprising a substantially triangular mem.

ber to which the signal is connected and having a lateral arm at its top, `a clamp for connecting said member with. a radiator collar, said clamp having a plurality of clamping members, one of which has an integral lug' lapping upon said arm and secured thereto, said lug having a depending fiange engaging the .outside of the holder and bevelled on its inner face.

18. Ina device of the class described, in combination, a pair of substantially arc shaped members adapted to engage oppositel sidesiof a radiator collar, and shaped to contact with the collar at points spaced apart from each other, sectional bolts engaging the ends of the members for drawing them together, the sections having threaded engagement, the bolts having ball and socket connections with one member and sliding Connections with the other, and cooperating cam surfaces in connection with the said member and the bolts for moving` said bolts inwardly when they are tightened.

19. In a device of the class described, in combination, a traflie signal and licenseplate holder comprising a plate having'an extension at its top provided With integral lateral wings of greater height than the extension, the wings being bent to lie substantially parallel and the tops thereof being bent to overlap.

'20. In a device of the class described, in combination, va traffic signal and license plate holder comprising a plate having an extension at its top provided with integral lateral Wings of greater height than the eX- tension, the wings being bent to lie substantially parallel and the tops thereof being bent to overlap, and a clamp for engaging the inlet collar of a radiator connected to the flanges.

21. In a device of the class described, in combination, a traffic signal and license plate holder comprising a plate having an extension at its ltop provided with integral lateral Wings of greater height than the extension, the wings being bent to lie substantially parallel and the tops thereof being bent to overlap, a clamp for engaging the inlet collar of a radiator and having a lug lying upon the flanges and secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD oo oPER TAYLOR. 

